My sister's in shock over G20 cop 'attack'

My sister's in shock over G20 cop 'attack'

Nicola Fisher is to sue the Metropolitan Police after footage showed her being hit by a cop

Shocking internet footage shows Nicola Fisher being smacked across the face and then struck on the legs by a baton-wielding policeman.

The sergeant has been suspended after an inquiry was launched into the alleged police brutality.

But “terrified” Nicola, 35, plans to sue the Metropolitan Police for what she claims was an unprovoked attack, say her family.

“My sister was terrified and very traumatised,” said Natalie Thompson. “She did not want to come forward as she feared nothing would be done, but once the footage was released she decided to do something.”

Critics have accused cops of over-reacting during the G20 anti-capitalist protests when US President Barack Obama jetted into London two weeks ago.

Nicola was hit on April 2 as she attended a vigil outside the Bank of England for Ian Tom-linson, a 47-year-old newspaper seller who died of a heart attack soon after being pushed over by a cop as he walked home the previous day.

The later video footage shows the cop wearing body armour shout “Go away” at Nicola, who is clutching a carton of orange juice and a camera and appears to pose no threat.

He slaps her across the face with the back of a gloved hand and she shrieks: “I’m a woman!”

The officer, whose shoulder identity number was not visible in the footage, then swipes at her legs with his baton.

Tristan Woodwards, 25, from Basingstoke, Hamps who posted the footage on YouTube, said: “She was not doing anything. It was terrible, but I thought nothing of it as this had been happening all day. She was by far not the only one to be hit for no reason.”

Laws allow cops to use reasonable force during riots but Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson last night said footage of some police actions during the protest was “clearly disturbing”.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating and Sir Paul ordered a review of the crowd control tactic known as “kettling”, which pens crowds of people into one place.

It could lead to changes in the way protests are policed to avoid violence.

Sir Paul said: “G20 was a complex policing operation managing the movement and protection of heads of state while balancing the right to lawful protest.

“Complaints have been raised over the tactic of containment and whether this achieves that balance.

“Police officers should be identifiable at all times by their shoulder numbers.”

Shami Chakrabarti, director of civil rights group Liberty, was concerned the officers in both incidents were part of the Met’s Territorial Support Group.

“This raises serious questions about the chain of command,” she said.

“Why were both officers so apparently ready to use violence? Why were their identity numbers obscured?